Method of connecting together a plurality of wood veneer pieces



D. N. COPP March 22, 1966 METHOD OF CONNECTING TOGETHER A PLURALITY OFWOOD VENEER PIECES Filed Feb. 13, 1963 FIG. I

t 5/ l 25 5a! INVENTOK DAN/EL N. GOPP BY WW1? zr United States Patent3,202,025 METHOD OF CONNECTENG TUGETHER A PLU- RALITY 0F WOOD VENEERPHECES Daniel N. Copp, Memphis, Tenn, assignor to Wilco Machine Works,inc, Memphis, Tenn. Fiied Feb. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 258,282 6 Claims. (Cl.156-444) This invention relates to an improved means and method for theprocessing of veneer.

Heretofore, in the usual method of the processing of veneer coming fromeither a rotary lathe or slicing machine, there was a great deal ofmanual labor necessary, particularly during the initial phases of theoperation, i.e., during the roundup, when, due to the out of round nessof the log, part pieces or pieces of roundup come from the machine. Someattempts have been made to overcome this problem by stitching the piecesof roundup, but this has not been completely satisfactory. Also, in theprevious methods of processing veneer, it was necessary to clip theveneer twice, once before the drying of the veneer and again afterdrying.

The prevent invention is directed towards overcoming the above mentionedand other disadvantages in the processing of veneer.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a meansand method for causing the part pieces of roundup to be held together sothat they can be handled as a continuous sheet of veneer.

A further object is to provide a means and method for strengthening asheet of veneer for the handling thereof.

A further object is to provide means for ameliorating the tendency ofthe veneer to split along the grain and, in some cases, eliminating suchsplits.

A further object is to provide a means and method for greatly saving onlabor and material during the processing of veneer.

A further object is to provide a unique arrangement in a machine forprocessing veneer including means for first applying heat to theopposite side edges of the veneer to establish dried or heated areas ofthe veneer and means for next applying adhesive on the heated areas toestablish bands of adhesive holding the pieces of veneer together.

A further object is to provide such a machine including means forapplying tapes over the bands of adhesive to further strengthen thesheet of veneer.

A further object is generally to improve the means and method forprocessing veneer.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the presentinvention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment willbe readily understood from the following specification upon reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the preferred form of theprocessing of the veneer in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an alternate form of the heating meansin the machine of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of another alternate form of the heatingmeans in the machine of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary and diagrammatic view showing fibersin the adhesive which may be used in the machine and method of thepresent invention.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby reference characters, and referring first to the preferred embodimentshown in FIGS. 1 and 3,242fi2 Patented Mar. 22, 1Q66 2, the machine 11of the present invention is located adjacent the output of a veneerproducing machine 13 of usual construction, which is of any suitabletype such as the rotary type shown, or may be of other types such as theslicer type, without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. In the veneer producing machine 13 shown, the usual rotatablydriven spindles 15 are used for chucking the block or log shown as at Lso that the log is rotated about its horizontal axis in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 1. In machine 13, the usual transverselyextending knife 17, which is supported by suitable means as the supportbar 19, is moved into contact with the log L to cut the log into sheetsof veneer V in the usual manner. Also, in machine 13, the usual spurknives 21, which are supported by suitable means as the support member23, are provided for trimming the opposite edges of the veneer V so thata constant length of the veneer, shown as at dimension A, will bemaintained. Inthe drawings, the parts of the veneer shown as at T arethe parts which have been trimmed from the opposite edges of the veneerV by the spur knives 21, as above described.

Machine 11 includes means, such as a conveyor 25,

for conveying the veneer V that comes from machine 13 past work areas onmachine 11. Conveyor 25 is of any suitable construction, as spaced aparthorizontal rollers 27, 29, rotatably driven by suitable means, notshown; and an endless conveyor belt 31 movably carried by the rollers sothat the top portion 33 of the belt moves away from the machine 13, orto the right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Conveyor belt 31 carries theveneer successively past a first pair of stations or work areas 35 andthen past a second pair of stations or Work areas 37. The pairs of workareas 35 are respectively adjacent opposite edges of the veneer V, andthe pair of work areas 37 are also adjacent the opposite edges of theveneer.

At each of the work areas 35 is provided suitable heating means which ispreferably in the form of superheated steam jets 39. The superheatedsteam 3% emanates from suitable sources of superheated steam, such asthe pair of nozzles 41) respectively located above and below the sheetof veneer V. Alternate'ly, in place of steam jets 39, high frequencyheating or infra-red heating may be provided, such as by the infra-redlights 41 shown in FIG. 4; by induction heating through heated rollers42, shown in FIG. 5; or by other suitable heating means, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. At anyrate, the heat is applied along narrow heating zones on the upper face43 and the lower face 45 of the veneer to establish heated areas orportions 47 in the veneer V adjacent opposite edges thereof, and inwhich portions the moisture is driven out from the green veneer and thetemperature is raised for a purpose later to be described. Also, itshould be stated that, in some cases, it may be desirable to omit theheating means.

At each of the work areas 37 is provided means for applying continuousstreams of hot melt adhesive 51 to the upper and lower faces 43, 45 atthe portions 47. The means for applying adhesive 51 is by any suitablemeans such as the nozzles 53 respectively located above and below thesheet of veneer V. Adhesive 51 is preferably, though not necessarily, ofthe commonly known polyester type resins. After the molten stream ofadhesive 51 has hardened, bands 55 of the hardened adhesive strengthenthe continuous sheet of veneer V and hold together the part pieces ofroundup, which will be better understood in the description of theoperation of the device to follow later in the specification. Ifdesired, for further strength, fibers 57, such as spun glass fibers asshown in FIG. 6, may be provided in the adhesive. After the veneer V hasbeen processed as above described, it is preferably rolled onto a reel,such as that shown as at 59.

The modified machine 61 is substantially the same as machine 11 exceptthat a third pair of stations or work areas 63 are provided behind thepair of work areas 37. At each of the pair of work areas 63, tapes 65,such as nylon tapes, are respectively applied over the bands 55 ofadhesive and preferably before the adhesive has completely hardened. InFIG. 3, the numerals 67 illustrate diagrammatically the rolls of tapes65 which ars disposed above and below the veneer V, and the numerals 6'9designate the rollers which are also disposed above and below the veneerV to press the tapes 65 against the plastic bands 55 so that the tapesare adhered to the veneer by the plastic.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that means isprovided for strengthening the continuous sheet of veneer V to aid inits handling. This is particularly useful when the veneer is very thinand there are stresses put on the sheet of veneer in subsequentprocessing. However, an even more important advantage is gainedbyproviding means for holding the part pieces of rdundup so that they canbe handled as a continuous sheet. In FIG. 2, a couple of the pieces ofroundup are shown as at V1 and V2, and it will be seen that they areheld together by the band 55. As is known, the first pieces that comefrom the veneer producing machine 13, which are known as pieces ofroundup, are not regular in shape due to the out-of-roundness of thelog. Thus, they have uneven edges, such as at E1 and E2, which cannot beabutted together in flat relationship. With the present invention, theveneer can be handled as a continuous sheet while in the green state andwhile the edges E1 and E2, for example, are still irregular. Also, itwill be understood that only one clipping is necessary, since theprevious practice of clipping the veneer while in the green state may beomitted, and the veneer only c'lipped after being dried This saves agreat deal on labor and material, andit is estimated that the materialsaved is over 30%. Additionally, it will be understood that the presentinvention ameliorates the tendency of the veneer to split along thegrain. For example, the splits S in veneer V, shown in PEG. 2, will beprevented from becoming any worse by the holding effect of the adhesive51. Also, some of the splits which otherwise might occur are eliminatedby the adhesive.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the method ofthe present invention comprises the following steps: (1) applying heatto the opposite side edges of the veneer sheets to drive the moisturetherefrom; (2) applying an adhesive on the opposite faces of the veneeradjacent the side edges thereof to provide a band of adhesive forstrengthening the continuous sheet or" veneer or for holding the partpieces of roundup together. In addition, an alternate further step maybe provided of (3) applying tapes respectively over said bands. Finally,the present invention contemplates only one clipping of the veneersheets after the drying thereof.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that a very efficientmeans and method of processing veneer is provided which greatly saves onlabor and materials in the processing thereof.

Although the invention has been described in some detail by way ofillustration and example for purposes of clarity or understanding, it isto be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes andmodifications may be made therein which are within the full intendedscope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. The method of connecting a plurality of thin wood veneer piecestogether to form a single ply sheet, said veneer pieces being ofdifferent proportions but of substantially rectangular configuration andwith each veneer piece having two substantially oppositely disposedfirst edges and two substantially oppositely disposed second edges, saidmethod comprising positioning said plurality of veneer piecesjuxtaposedly with said first edge of one: piece being contiguous saidfirst edge of another piece and with each piece of said plurality ofpieces of veneer being; disposed flatwise along a plane common to allsaid veneer pieces, conveying said plurality of pieces along a course:substantially coincident to said common plane of saidl pieces with thedirection of movement of said plurality of pieces being substantiallyperpendicular to the extent-- sion of said first edges and substantiallyparallel to the extension of said se'c'on'd edges; heating saidplurality of. pieces as they are conveyed along said course for removing them'ois'tu're from the wood, each piece of said plur-- ality ofpieces being heated substantially along each edge: portion of saidoppositely disposed second edges; and as; said plurality of pieces ofveneer are being conveyed along said course, applying two continuouslyformed bands: of plastic" material respectively to the heated and driedoppositely disposedsecond edge portions of said plurality' of veneerpieces; said bands of plastic material having suclm quality of materialas to adhere to said heated and dried secondecl'ge portions and toconnect said plurality of vene'er' pieces together to form a sheet ofVeneer pieces.

, 2. The method defined in claim 1 including a multiplicity ofreinforcing fibers intermixed in said plastic material for strengtheningsaid bands.

3. In" the process of making Wood veneer by rotating a. log against aknife to form a horizontally disposed web orsheet of veneer, the methodof strengthening said veneer for handling purposes comprising conveyingsaid web is.- suing from said log along a substantially rectilinearcourse, heating the oppositely disposed side edge portions of said webas it is conveyed thereby to remove moisture from the wood along theside edges of said Web, and applying two continuously formed bands ofplastic material respectivcly to the heated and dried oppositelydisposed edge portions of said web as said web is being conveyed, saidbands of plastic material having such quality of material as to adhereto said heated and dried edge portions and to strengthen said Web.

4. The method defined in claim 3 including a multiplicity of reinforcingfibers intermixed in said plastic material for strengthening said bandsand for strengthening said web of wood veneer.

5. A method for processing green veneer coming from a machine that firstcuts the veneer from a log in a plurality of flat round-up pieces in thegreen state and with each piece having two substantially oppositelydisposed first edges and two substantially oppositely disposed secondedges and that after said round-up pieces are cut said machine cuts theveneer in a continuous sheet in the green state having opposite sideedges corresponding to said second edges, said method comprisingpositioning before clipping said round-up pieces while in the greenstate juxtaposedly with said first edge of one of said pieces beingcontiguous said first edge of another piece and with each of saidplurality of round-up pieces being disposed fiatwise along a planecommon to all of said round-up pieces and thence positioning saidcontinuous. sheet before clipping and while in the green state in a.plane common to said round-up pieces, conveying said plurality ofround-up pieces before clipping and while in the green state and saidcontinuous sheet before clippingand while in the green state along acourse substantially coincident to said common plane with the directionof movement being substantially perpendicular to said first edges andsubstantially parallel to said second edges and said side edges, beforeclipping and while in the green state heating said plurality of piecesonly adjacent said second edges and heating said sheet only adjacentsaid side edges to drive the moisture therefrom and provide heatedportions of said pieces and said sheet only adjacent said second edgesand said side edges, applying continuous streams of molten adhesiverespectively to said heated portions on said opposite side edges and onsaid,

opposite second edges, said streams of molten adhesive having suchcharacteristics that they adhere to said heated portions and connectsaid plurality of pieces together to form a web of veneer pieces andconnect said web and said sheet and strengthen said Web and said sheet,While said sheet and said web are connected with said streams ofadhesive drying the veneer before any clipping is done, and finallywhile said web and said sheet are connected With said streams ofadhesive clipping the defects from said sheet and said web.

6. A method for processing green veneer coming from a machine that cutsthe veneer in a continuous sheet in the green state having opposite sideedges, said method comprising positioning said continuous sheet while inthe green state in a substantially horizontal plane, conveying saidcontinuous sheet while in the green state along a course substantiallycoincident to said plane with the direction of movement beingsubstantially parallel to said side edges, while in the green stateheating said sheet only adjacent said side edges to drive the moisturethere from and provide heated portions of said side edges, applyingcontinuous streams of molten adhesive respectively to said heatedportions on said side edges, said streams of molten adhesive having suchcharacteristics that they adhere to said heated portions and strengthensaid sheet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 13,03411/1909 Dennis 156-304 1,977,199 10/1934 Osgood 144-313 2,226,95312/1940 Straus 156-255 2,290,761 7/ 1942 Miller 156304 2,442,115 5/1948Byers et al. 156-255 2,495,680 1/1950 Andrews 156-436 2,640,796 6/1953Langer 156436 2,682,909 7/1954 Claff et al. 156-436 2,960,425 11/1960Sherman 156-304 3,018,212 1/1962 Chinn 156-244 3,135,644 6/1964 Coplenet al. 161101 FOREIGN PATENTS 937,333 3/1948 France.

EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner. DOUGLASS I. DRUMMOND, AssistantExaminer.

3. IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING WOOD VENEER BY ROTATING A LOG AGAINST AKNIFE TO FORM A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED WEB OF SHEET OF VENEER, THE METHODOF STRENGTHENING SAID VENEER FOR HANDLING PURPOSES COMPRISING ACONVEYING SAID WEB ISSUING FROM SAID LOG ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLYRECTILINEAR COURSE, HEATING THE OPPOSITELY DISPOSED SIDE EDGE PORTIONSOF SAID WEB AS IT IS CONVEYED THEREBY TO REMOVE MOISTURE FROM THE WOODALONG THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID WEB, AND APPLYING TWO CONTINUOUSLY FORMEDBANDS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL RESPECTIELY TO THE HEATED AND DRIED OPPOSITELYDISPOSED EDGE POTIONS OF SAID WEB AS SAID WEB IS BEING CONVEYED, SAIDBANDS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING SUCH QUALITY OF MATERIAL AS TO ADHERETO SAID HEATED AND DRIED EDGE PORTIONS AND TO STRENGTHEN SAID WEB.